Plea on greylag goose management

Scotland’s farmers want Holyrood to pledge continued financial support for greylag goose management schemes.

With large populations of geese establishing themselves across Scotland, NFU Scotland has asked the Scottish Government to make provision that will facilitate “new but necessary” pilot schemes in other parts of the country.

NFU Scotland has given its full support to calls from the Orkney, Tiree & Coll and Uist goose groups regarding the funding of adaptive management pilot schemes for greylag geese.

The farmers also stressed the urgent need for a clear plan for the long-term management of greylag and barnacle geese populations.

In a letter to government, union vice-president Martin Kennedy said the proposed winding down of the pilot scheme on Orkney would not only affect farmers and crofters but impact on efforts to improve water quality on the islands.

Mr Kennedy said: “Goose management continues to be a vital but resource-intensive exercise in many of the most economically fragile parts of Scotland where grazing by large populations of geese challenges the viability of farmers and crofters.

“We are acutely aware of the competing pressures on all public-sector budgets, but we firmly believe that existing funding levels for each goose management scheme or pilot project must be maintained until ways can be found to effectively and efficiently manage goose populations to sustainable levels and keep them there.”

The union wants Holyrood to commit new funding to sustain the adaptive management pilots to avoid losing the benefits of previous investment and to protect farmers, crofters and others.

They also want to see a concrete plan established for the future.

Commenting, a Scottish Government spokesman said Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is reviewing the current arrangements for the management of wild geese in Scotland.

“Where there are particular problems with non-migratory greylags and there is a pressing need to undertake control during the close season, SNH is willing to work with landowners and managers to look at ways to assist,” he said.

“The Scottish Government spends £1.2 million on goose management across Scotland each year to support crofters and farmers in dealing with the impacts of certain species of goose through local management schemes and adaptive management pilots.”

Grazing by large populations of geese challenges the viability of farmers and crofters. MARTIN KENNEDY